The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-27

From tho San Francisco Arsonaut.

full of cool shadows. though it was
midsummer, and the purple bordered
linens at the windows swayed in the
hot wind. There were purple-border-
ed linens, too. on the couch where the
Lady Lucrece lay-one can not do
much at noontide in Pisa when it is
midsummer. The heavens seemed to
hang down near to the dangerous
earth; a palpitant white heat SHIN
mered on the streets; the lazaroni
slept; at the lighthouses the attend
ants went about in shifts OF linen; the
shops and the stores were silent; it
was too hot even to hate. II one had
a vengeance to take he waited till
nightfall, when it should be cooler.
And the Lady Lucrece, fragrant from
her bath, lay on her couch amid the
fresh linens, and sprinkled powder on
her breasts to keep the moisture from
gathering there.
AS the long day wasted itself in
languid hours the lady smiled, al
though it was not her wont.
"How many hours till moonlight"
she asked OF her maid.
"Six and more, gracious mistress, "
replied the maid, drowsily; and she
wiped her forehead upon her sleeve.
"Ah," sighed the Lady Lucrece,
"bring in Massimiliani."
A m oment later aqueer, halting step
was heard on the tiled floor in the
hall outside. The curtains at the
door were the green which the sea
wears in the morning. They parted,
and Massimiliani stood between them.
Had nature had her way he would
have been tall, but some mysterious
force had bent him almost double, and
his bumped shoulders and heavy
head hung always toward the earth.
He was not merely grotesque, he was
hideous. There are men that nature
has jested with; Massimiliani she had
cursed. He made a salutation with
his hands-he could bend no lower.
clam forever bowling" he said to his
mistress. "My grace was so great the
first time had occasion to make q
salute to q lady. that never was al
lowed to RISE"
"Who was the LADY," queried his
mistress, shutting her eyes as he
stood before her.
"The only woman with whom Ishall
ever lie-Mother Earth" He looked
straight down at Lady Lucrece. She
did not cover her bosom-why should
she for Massimiliani?-no one counted
him man. He was as free to come
and go as the spaniel that lay upon
the rugs.
II do not want gibes this after.
noon" said his mistress. Massimili-
ami spread out his huge dark hands
and smiled.
"Tnen my gracious lady did not
"Send foryou? Yes, Isent for your"
at cannot be. You have forgotten.
For what am | but a gibe? 1t can
not be question of wisdom, or it
would not lie between a woman and
q fool. Perhaps it was matter OF
grace, and you want me to dance, or
q matter OF beauty, and you wish me
to smile, or o question OF sweet
sounds. and you wish me 20 sing"
The Lady Lucrece sat up and put
the damp hair back from her brow.
II had sooner hear @ chorus OF ra-
vens," she said, but she laughed as
she said it. No one minded Massimili-
ami, and she pulled at the end OF his
long, hanging sleeve to make him
SQUAT upon the floor by her feet,
which he did with a knocking gesture.
princes have been here before me, ="
said he.
The lady looked naughty, but she
was not ill-pleased.
at does not relate to singing" said
she.
Massimiliani leaped to his feet and
seized some roses that lay at the foot
OF the couch.
1.-THE fiowersl'' he cried, and flung
them from the easement.
His mistress stared at him in amaze
ment.
From the Lord Ascanio," she re.
piled mechanically.
"There was q tarantula among
them. Are you so good, madam, that
your lovers must send you to heavenf"
FOOL" cried the lady, angrily,
there was no tarantula among the
roses" ~
Massimiliani sat down again upon
the floor.
"Go on with your tale" said he, II
am no greater fool than Twas before"
The Lady Lucrece sat bordering,